Rice introduces new basketball coach

By Joseph Duarte |
March 27, 2014

Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard, left, shakes hands with Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, as he announces him to be Rice's new Rice men's basketball head coach after a press conference at Rice, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Chase Rhoades, 5, smiles at his dad, Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, as he speaks to the media as Rice's new men's basketball head coach, during a press conference, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Chase Rhoades, 5, shakes hands with a Rice basketball player before the start of a press conference officially announcing, his dad, Mike Rhoades, the associate head coach at VCU, as it's new Rice men's basketball head coach, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, Rice's new Rice men's basketball head coach poses with his family, wife, Jodie and kids Porter, 8, Chase, 5, and Logan, 10 (l-r) after a press conference at Rice, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, Rice's new Rice men's basketball head coach poses with his family, wife, Jodie and kids Porter, 8, Chase, 5, and Logan, 10 (l-r) and the rest of his new team, after a press conference at Rice, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU and Rice's new Rice men's basketball head coach introduces his son Chase, 5, to Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard before a press conference at Rice, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard officially announces the hiring of Mike Rhoades, the associate head coach at VCU, as it's new men's basketball head coach, during a press conference at Rice, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, speaks as Rice's new men's basketball head coach, during a press conference, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Logan Rhoades, 10, smiles at his dad, Mike Rhoades, formerly the associate head coach at VCU, as he speaks to the media as Rice's new men's basketball head coach, during a press conference, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Chase Rhoades, 5, and his sister Porter Rhoades, 8, look out of the window at Rice Stadium before the start of a press conference officially announcing their father, Mike Rhoades, the associate head coach at VCU, as it's new men's basketball head coach, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

Photo By Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle

Mike Rhoades center, introduces his children Logan Rhoades, 10, and his sister Porter Rhoades, 8, to Rice basketball players before the start of a press conference officially announcing, Rhoades, the associate head coach at VCU, as it's new Rice men's basketball head coach, Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Houston.

By 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Mike Rhoades was with his team in the weight room at Tudor Fieldhouse.

"I'm going to sweat with my guys," Rhoades said several hours later during his introductory press conference as Rice's new men's basketball coach.

On his first official day on the job, Rhoades outlined some of what he wants to accomplish: "building a bond, a family" within the program, creating a winning culture without sacrificing academic integrity and "bringing an exciting style of basketball many will want to see."

Rhoades said the Owls plan to adopt some of the concepts of the 'Havoc' defense – a relentless, full-court press that forces an up-tempo pace that ultimately wears teams down – that he learned as associate head coach the past four seasons under Shaka Smart at Virginia Commonwealth. VCU led the nation in steals and was third in turnover margin this season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

"We want to play fast, we want to go after people," Rhoades said. "We want to wear people out. But it takes a lot of time to build that and create that culture.

"Our guys will have a lot of fun going after people, fearing no one and playing with a toughness and confidence that will make you proud."

The Owls will likely have an adjustment period from the deliberately slower-paced, defensive-oriented scheme used most of the past six seasons under former coach Ben Braun.

"Since we're not a big team and have a lot of smaller guards we're going to have to outplay teams and wear them down," point guard Max Guercy said. Forward Seth Gearhart added that many of the Owls' current players came from high schools that like to pressure and "make other teams uncomfortable."

It won't happen immediately, as Rhoades will tinker and adjust early and eventually have to recruit the type of athletes to fit the scheme. And in a change, Rhoades said he plans to focus part of the recruiting effort in Houston and Texas.

"We're going to dig in the backyard," he said.

Rhoades said he prefers versatile players, the type that possess the skills but are also the right fit for the program "and want to be here."

"I'll take a little less talented player if he's a great guy with great character," Rhoades said. "You can win with those guys. I've proven that everywhere I've been.

That's not going to change."

Rice has only one winning season in the past nine years and is coming off consecutive single-digit win seasons. The Owls have not been to the NCAA Tournament since 1970, one of the longest droughts in the nation.

"It's not going to be easy," Rhoades said, looking at his entire roster of players sitting on the first few rows. "But together it's going to be rewarding and I promise you it's going to be worth it."

Center Sean Obi, among the team leaders with an average 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds as a freshman, said Rhoades' immediate commitment has impressed the team.